Grille



Jan. 20, 1953 I w. w. KENNEDY GRILLE Filed Sept. 20, 1946 AT TORNEYS INVENTOR. Walter HZ Kennedy BY Q g g 43m $4144,

Patented Jan. 20, 1953 GRILLE Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,101 I 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to adjustable grilles of .grille having a set of parallel vanes mounted for rotative adjustment simple and effectual means for adjusting the vanes simultaneously.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grille of this type wherein the vanes of one set are made of substantial width and project beyond the vanes of the other set without interfering with the adjustment of either set, thereby providing for effectual control of the direction of flow of air through the grille.

Another object is to provide a grille of the character indicated comprising a frame having a large number of closely spaced narrow vanes pivotally mounted therein and disposed within the general plane of the frame and a small number of relatively wide pivotal vanes projecting to one side of the frame and so interrelated to the narrow vanes as not to interfere with the pivotal movement of either set of vanes.

A further object of the invention isto provide a grille of the character set forth which has a neat and attractive appearance, which is simple and sturdy in construction, and which is inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention also resides in the novel construction and location of hinge means for interlocking the two relatively perpendicular sets of vanes, whereby each set of vanes is adjustable independently of the other set. 1 The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a grille embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of construction and the manner in which the vanes are interrelated.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of construction of one of the vanes.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a grille having two relatively perpendicular sets of vanes Ill and II, the

vanes I 0 being relativelynarrow and herein shown disposed horizontally in the general plane of a frame I2, and the vanes I I being of substantially greater width, herein disposed vertically and to the rear of the vanes I0 so as to project outwardly from the frame.

The vanes are so interrelated that the horizontal vanes II] are maintained in spaced parallel relationship. This is accomplished through the provision of a series of alined holes or slots I3 in the horizontal vanes II] through which narrow actuating bars I4 are inserted having a series of spaced notches I5 on the forward edges thereof adapted to receive lands I6 formed by the slots I3 and disposed adjacent the forward edges of the vanes.

The vertical vanes II are hinged so as to be swingable in a lateral direction at the rear of the horizontal vanes. These vertical vanes are formed with notches IT to receive lands I 8 formed at the rear edge of the horizontal vanes III by the slots I3, and the vanes I I are pivotally mounted on vertical rods I9 rearwardly of the bars I4. As shown, the pivotal mounting of the vanes II is effected through the provision of spaced cars 20 formed on the vanes and curled to form alined bearings intermediate the notches for the reception of the-pivot rods I9 extending through the slots I3 in the horizontal vanes.

The frame H as shown herein is rectangular in formcomprising channel shaped upper and lower members 22 and 23 supported and joined at their outer ends by channel shaped side membersv 24 and 25. As shown in Fig. 3, the latter members are shaped to receive the ends of the horizontal vanes ID. The upper and lower members 22 and 23 are constructed to receive in opposed relation U-shaped bearing members 26 ,(Fig. 2) slotted to receive the opposite endsof the bars I4 for sliding movement and also apertured to receive the ends ofv the pivot rods I9. The rods are firmly held against endwise movement in the. frame by abutment with the frame members 22 and 23, but the bars I4 are shortened to permit of, endwise movement.

As best shown in Fig. 4. the notches I5, in the bars I4 and the notches H in the vanes II are made of reduced width at their outer ends to form opposed. short bearing points 21 and 21a for engagement with the lands I6 and I8 of the vanes II]. ,In particular, eachnotch is shaped so that the Outer end of the notch is relatively wide, then converges to a narrow central portion and then diverges again. Such shaping of the notches is advantageous in that it permits rocking of the shown in Fig. 1, the discharge of air in a verti-..

cal direction is controlled by a relatively large number of narrow vanes H] while the discharge of air in a horizontal or lateraldirection is controlled by a smaller number of relatively wider vanes ll constituting fins. -The latter vanes or fins are preferably individually adjustable. thus makin it possible to attain any desired pattern of lateral dischar e of air.

The hor zontal vanes Hl'are .adiustable in unison in either direction bv the bars I 4 en ag ng the forward ed e nortions of the vanes wh le the rear ed es thereof pivot about the fulcr ms formed bv the onnosed bear ng oints 21 and 2 a in the notches I1 of the ve tical vanes II, the latter bein held a ainst endwise movement. The various interen a ing parts are made to fit snmvlv so that t e two sets of vanes will be frictionally he d n various ad usted nosi ions.

This construction lends it elf to rea v assem lv. The hor zontal vanes I" are he d in a ii and the bars I4 are inserted throu h the a ined slots [3. T e bar is th n brou ht bodily forward so hat the notches IR reoe' vethe lan s I 5. Vertical vanes H are then nlaced in posit on at the rear of the bars M so that he bearin s ov rl e the openings 01 the slots l3. and Hip rods I9 are inser ed thrmwh the hearin s and slots.

The hear n mem ers 26 are then blamed on t e to an bo t m of t e vane ass mblv, the saint there n bein a in d to rece ve the ends of the bars Ill and rods l9 prm'entln sli ht v a o e and b w the as e b y. The fra e I. is then nositioned about the a semblv. For this nnrnose. the frame is made from an elon ated channel bar Sllitah'lv n tched t nerrnit bending thereo into rec an u ar orm. the ends be ng 'm tered -for Weldin2' to ether after bendin t e frame abo t t e assemhlv w th e en s of the anes Ill and bearing members 2 recei ed in the inwardly open ng channel for ed by the channel bar.

I claimas. my invention:

1. A rille comprising a frame hav n an inwardlv opening channel. a set of relativel narrow parallel vanes mounted in said frame for r tative 'ad u tment and hav ng alined holes formin lands at op osite ed es of the vanes. the ends of said vanes being received in the inwardly o ening channel. a set of relatively wide fins substantially perpendicular to said set of vanes projecting outwardly from said frame, said fins having a series of notches adapted to receive the lands at one edge of the vanes. said notches being sha ed to permit adjustment of the vanes, an elongated bar extending through said holes having a series of notches adapted .to receive the lands at the opposite edges of said vanes, thenotches on said bar being shaped to permit adjustment of the vanes as said :bar is moved bodily back and forth through-the holes to adjust thevanes, a rod extending through said holes, and a series of bearings on the fins intermediate the notches adapted to encircle said rod thereby permitting the fins to be swung laterally about said rod.

2. A grille, a frame, a set of relatively narrow parallel vanes mounted in said frame for rotative adjustment and having slots forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a second set of relatively wide vanes mounted in said frame in a perpendicular relation to said first set of vanes and having notches thereon to receive the lands at one edge of said first set of vanes, an elongated bar extending through said slots and having notches for receiving the lands at the opposite edge of said first set of vanes, said bar being adapted for endwise movement through said slots to adjust the position of said first set of vanes, and means for hinging said second set of vanes whereby the latter are individually swingable in a lateral direction.

3. In a grille having a frame, the combination of a set of parallel vanes disposed in said frame for rotative adjustment and having a plurality of sets of alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a plurality of fins substantially perpendicular to said set of vanes and each having a series of notches adapted to receive the crums upon which the vanes may turn, said notches being shaped to permit adjustment of the vanes, means engaging the lands at the opposite edge of said vanes to effect adjustment of the vanes on said fulcrums, rods extending through said sets of holes, and means on said fins adapted to encircle said rods whereby the fins are swingable laterally about said rod.

4. In a grille having a frame, the combination of a set of vanes having alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a set of parallel fins substantially perpendicular to said set of vanes having a series of notches adapted to receive the lands at one edge of the vanes and shaped to provide fulcrums upon which the vanes may turn for purposes of adjustment, means extending through said holes engaging the lands at the other edge of said vanes, said meanspermitting adjustment of said vanes on said fulcrums, and means for hinging said fins whereby the latter project outwardly from said frame and are swingable laterally with respect thereto.

5. In a grille, a frame, a set of parallel vanes mounted in said frame for rotative adjustment and having alined slots forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a set of fins supporting the lands at one edge of said vanes, an elongated bar extending through said slots and having notches for receiving the lands at the other edge of said vanes, and means extending through said slots behind said bar holding the latter in said slots, said means providing a hinge support for said fins whereby the latter are swingable to control the pattern of air discharged through said grille.

6. In a grille, a set of parallel vanes having alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a plurality of fins perpendicular to said set of vanes having notches to receive the lands at one edge of the vanes, said notches being shaped to provide fulcrums upon which the vanes may turn for purposes of adjustment, means coacting with the lands at the opposite edges of the vanes for adjusting the position of the vanes on said fulcrums, and means for hinging saidfins whereby the latter are swingable laterally.

'7. A grille having, in combination, a set of relatively narrow vanes mounted for rotative adjustment having alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of said vanes, a set of relatively wide fins having notches for receiving the lands on one edge of said vanes andproviding fulcrums upon which the vanes may turn, means extending through said holes engaging the lands on the other edge of said vanes for adjusting the position of said vanes on said fulcrums, and means for hinging said fins whereby the latter are swingable in a lateral direction.

8. In a grille, the combination of a set of vanes mounted in said grille for rotative adjustment and having a plurality of sets of alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a plurality of pivotally mounted fins substantially perpendicular to said set of vanes having a series of notches at one edge adapted to receive the lands at one edge of the vanes, said fins projecting outwardly from said one edge of the vanes, means including a bar notched to receive the lands at the opposite edge of the vanes, said bar and said fins being mounted for relative longitudinal movement to effect a rotative adjustment of the vanes.

9. In a grille, the combination of a set of vanes mounted in said grille for rotative adjustment and having a plurality of alined holes forming lands at opposite edges of the vanes, a plurality of elongated elements at one side of the vanes and notched to receive an edge of said vanes at that side, said notches being shaped to permit rotative adjustment of the vanes, and elongated bars extending through said holes having notches adapted to receive the lands on the edge of the vanes at the opposite side of said vanes, said elements and said bars mounted for relative longitudinal movement to effect a rotative adjustment of the vanes.

10. A grille having, in combination, a plurality of parallel vanes mounted for rotative adjustment and having a set of alined holes forming two sets of lands at opposite sides of the holes and a pair of members mounted for relative longitudinal movement in a direction perpendicular to said vanes each having a set of notches therein, one of said members extending through said holes and having its notches engaging one set of lands, and the other member being disposed at one side of the vanes and having its notches engaging the other set of lands whereby said vanes may be rotatively adjusted by relatively moving said two members.

WALTER W. KENNEDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,554,914 Guthier Sept. 22, 1925 1,850,822 Young Mar. 22, 1932 2,034,231 Fox Mar. 17, 1936 2,034,587 Maxwell Mar. 17, 1936 2,206,995 Ashley July 9, 1940 2,272,227 Thomas Feb. 10, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 371,636 Germany Mar. 17, 1923 

